On June 22, 1983, President Reagan addressed the National Conference of the National Federation of Independent Business(NFIB) on their 40th anniversary. The president praised America and then he praised small business owners.

“America is getting well. She’s growing strong. And, together we’ll keep her free. Looking at you I get a lump in my throat… Small business is the gateway to opportunity for those who want a piece to the American Dream... The character and conscience of small business built this nation. You know, in his book Wealth and PovertyGeorge Gilder wrote something about entrepreneurs that I’ve long believed. He said that most contribute far more to society than they ever recover. And most of them win no riches at all. They are the heroes of economic life…”

Lawrence Kudlow had this to say about Reagan’s style of praise versus Obama’s trashing of business owners.IBD editorials reported:

Does anybody remember, back in the depths of the recession of 1981-82, how President Ronald Reagan kept his chin up and exhorted American businesses to work hard and produce an economic recovery?

Reagan had a program of tax cuts, limited domestic spending, deregulation and a strong defense aimed at overturning Soviet communism. He argued in speech after speech that his domestic plan would produce higher economic growth and lower unemployment, and that prosperity would generate the resources to fund a strong national security.